By Robert Kibet
NAIROBI, Kenya, Aug. 28, 2025: As Athletics Kenya (AK) presses ahead with the national registration of athletics training camps, coaches, medical staff, and Athlete Support Personnel (ASP), the federation is also rolling out a parallel sensitization campaign to ensure athletes understand the new World Athletics rules on contracts, representation, and safeguarding.
The two-pronged initiative reflects AK’s determination to align the sport with global standards while protecting the welfare of athletes, particularly the youth who form the backbone of Kenya’s running tradition.
Safeguarding Through Registration
The registration exercise, which officially began on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, is designed to standardize and regulate all athletics camps across the country. By requiring coaches, medical personnel, and administrators to provide proper documentation, including certification and police clearance, AK is creating a safer and more accountable environment.
For Barnaba Korir, AK Youth Development Director and NOCK First Vice President, the process is central to shielding athletes from exploitation.
“For a long time, some unregistered and loosely organized camps have exposed athletes, especially young ones, to exploitation. By formally registering camps and linking them to Athletics Kenya, we can track, support, and safeguard athletes properly,” said Korir.
He stressed that official registration ensures athletes train in environments with qualified coaches, licensed medical staff, and recognized administrators, while also giving AK oversight over the structures that nurture talent.
“Safeguarding the future of Kenyan athletics means safeguarding the athlete from the very beginning. Registration, together with awareness of the new rules, gives us a structured way to protect our young athletes from exploitation, doping risks, and unsafe environments,” Korir added.
Athlete Awareness and Sensitization
Working alongside the registration drive is Mercy Mbuko, from AK’s Athlete Service Centre, who is leading the athlete sensitization sessions. Her outreach began in the South Rift, where she met Volare athletes at Kericho Central and spoke to competitors at the Belgut Half Marathon in Sosiot.
“Our athletes are our biggest asset, and knowledge is their shield,” Mbuko said. “When athletes understand their rights, they cannot be misled or exploited. That is why we are going camp by camp and event by event, to make sure no one is left behind.”
Her campaign has since extended to AK’s affiliate camps in the Nairobi region, including the KDF camp in Ngong Kibiko, the National Police Service (Traffic) athletics camp, and the Kenya Prisons camp, with similar messages of protection and compliance.
New World Athletics Rules
The sensitization sessions are built around the new World Athletics rules on Athletes’ Representatives, which came into effect in September 2023. Under these reforms:
● Representatives must be licensed directly by World Athletics through a centralised system.
● All must complete safeguarding, anti-doping, and integrity training before licensing.
● Representatives are required to carry professional indemnity insurance to cover malpractice.
● Contracts must be written, transparent, and capped at two years, renewable under review.
● Federations are barred from charging licensing fees, standardizing the process globally.
These reforms aim to close loopholes that previously exposed athletes to exploitation, ensuring that those guiding their careers are both qualified and accountable.
Building a Culture of Empowerment
By combining camp registration with athlete sensitization, AK is taking a holistic approach to strengthening athletics governance. Beyond performance, the federation is instilling a culture of empowerment where athletes know their rights, understand contracts, and have safe structures to develop their talent.
As one coach in the KDF camp in Ngong observed, “When our runners know their rights, they become not just better athletes, but stronger individuals capable of making important life decisions.”
The registration programme, running through November, will move region by region across the country, beginning in the South Rift before shifting to Nairobi’s security agencies, the Central region, and later the North Rift and Central Rift, among others.
Those seeking registration as Athlete Support Personnel are required to present proof of professional qualification, such as a coaching certificate for trainers or a medical license for health staff, along with a police clearance certificate to verify integrity. Camp administrators and other support staff must also provide documentation in their areas of expertise, while foreign nationals of any category are expected to show valid work permits.
With the backing of World Athletics, the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), ADAK, and NOCK, the initiative reflects a new era in Kenyan athletics—one where the dream of global success is pursued with dignity, fairness, and confidence.
